Mechanism for polishing match-heads.



F. VAN D. CRUSER.

MECHANISM FOR POLISHING MATCH HEADS.

I'HB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.; WASHINGTON. D C.

F. VAN D. CRUSER.

MECHANISM FOR POLISHING MATCH HEADS.

APPLICATION FLED lULY28|915 1,184,427. Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EME@ STATEn PATENT FQE.

FREDERICK VAN DYKE CRUSER, 0F OSWEGO, NEW YORK, .SSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR POLISHING MATCH-HEADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed July 28, 1915. Serial No. 42,311.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK V. D. CRUsER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city and county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanisms for Polishing Match-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for polishing the composition heads of matches by the direct action of rapidly-moving air upon the ends and sides of the match heads while they are in a plastic state.

The invention especially concerns a polishing apparatus for use in connection with, or as an attachment to continuous match machines employing an endless carrier chain into which the splints are progressively set in parallel rows and Vthereby transported through the match making path, including head-composition applying mechanism.

Y The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the eX- ternal surface of the individual match heads -immediately succeeding the compositionapplying stage and before the composition has had an opportunity to dry appreciably and form a skin on the outside-is subjected to the direct impingement of rapidly-moving air, the hygrometric condition of which is adjusted to meet the particular requirements of the existent atmospheric condition of the match room.

A further object of my invention is to provide a supplementary polishing means for the match heads.

With these and other objects in view my invention comprises various novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings-Figure l is a diagram of a part of a continuous match machine, showing the arrangement of the air blast devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, enlarged, through the casing and its contained elements. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig/1 is a bottom view of the air distributing pipe connection within the primary air chamber.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a portion of an endless carrier chain into which the match splints are inserted row by row in spaced relation to each other, and thence transported through the various stages .for conversion into complete matches; 1.1 designatesa chest containing the ignition composition into which the depending ends of the progressing splints are dipped to produce the bulb-like match heads, and 12 designates a roller aboutwhich the chain p asses as the splints with their soft or plastic headsleave the tank. The parts just referred to may be of any usual or approved construction. i

Immediately after the chain rounds the roller 12 the chain with its load of matches passes horizontally into and through a hood arranged directly above the composition chest. This hood comprises two side walls 13, a top 111, a bottom 14 and an outer end wall 15, the latter being provided with a gate opening whereby access to the chamber may be readily had, and whereby also provision may be had to permit theraising and lowering of the chain in respect to, the composition chest as desired. This hood is attached to and constitutes in effect an eXtension of a substantially cylindrical casing into and through which the chain progresses from the hood, said casing containing a freely rotatable guide-wheel 1G upon which the chain is guided and supported in its travel within the casing. The casing includes two spaced side walls 17 of appropriate contour and a circumferential. wall 18 having suitably disposed inlet and outlet portions 19, 20, respectively, for the traveling chain and its load of matches. This casing and the hood are supported upon a frame structure 21 in any suitable manner. A portion of the circumferential wall of the -casing affords a partition between the primary and secondary chambers constituted by the hood and casing respectively, and such portion is provided with a suitable opening equipped with a slide gate 22 whereby the area of the opening may be varied in order to adjust the extent of communication between the two chambers, as occasion may require. When the chain emerges from the secondary chamber, the chain passes to and about a series of suitable guide wheels 23, 24 eXteriorly of the casing.

Entering the upper part of the primary chamber is an air-inlet pipe 25 in communication with a trunk through which heated air is forced by a blower' or the like. The inlet pipe is provided with a Y-exten- 'sion 26 having a series of depending branch pipes 27 which are directed at various angles toward the underlying rip-projecting heads of the matches on the chain. The mouths of these pipes 27 are provided with spaced blades 28 which afford between them reduced air vents, through which the heated Y ture.

their peripheries, by a circular series of ra-V air is projected downwardly in divided cur*4 rents so as to strike the bulbs or heads of the matches progressing through the hood; that is to say, the air is projected toward the outer ends and the sides of the heads in a manner to 'impinge at high velocity uniformly against the entire exposed surfaces of the plastic heads.

The match heads are also exposed to the action of polishing air as they travel upon the wheel 16 within the secondary chamber. This wheel in the construction illustratedinchicles two spaced disks or end heads 29 mounted on spiders 30 which are connected by cross-bolts 31. The spiders are provided with central hubs or bearings 32 which are loosely mounted on a shaft 33 extending through the side walls of the casing and journaled in bearings in the frame struc The wheel heads are connected, near dially-disposed blades 34 which provide. a multiplicity of air vents, and the spiders are provided on their inner peripheral edges with annular flanges for the support and guidance of the edges of the chain in such a manner that the headed ends of the splints carried by the chain project inward toward the radial air vents as shown. Fast on the shaft 33 is a paddle or fan wheel 35 which by actuation of said shaft is rapidly rotated in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the match chain. The shaft is provided with a pulley 36 which is adapted to be driven at a. predetermined speed from any suitable source of power.

One of the end heads 29 of the wheel is provided with a central opening 37 with which communicates an air-inlet pipe leading from the source of heated air. Such air thus being forced into the interior of the wheel, is driven outwardly in divided radial currents by the action of the rapidly rotating fan, which currents continuously impinge against the bulbs or heads of the matches, longitudinally of the match splints,

as the matches progress on the wheel.

The wall 18 of the casing is provided with an opening 3S in communication with an air exhaust pipe 39 leading to a suitable point of discharge exteriorly of the match room.

Several of the upper rows of exterior wheels 24 are constructed to be supplied directly with atmospheric air. These wheels are similar in'construction to the wheels 16,

excepting that both end heads of each of the wheels 24 are provided with central openings for the admission of air. The fans of one or more of the wheels 24 are rotatable at high speed in order that the amount of air directed to the heads of the traveling matches can be nicely regulated as atmospheric conditions may require.Y In the present instance three wheels 24 are provided with the internal fans and radial air vents. The shafts of the said fans are provided with pulleys 40 which are successively geared together by belts 41, 42. One of the pulleys is connected by a belt 43 with a pulley 44 on a driving shaft 45, and hence all the pulleys 24 when they are geared together, may be simultaneously driven. The three pulleys, and their fans, may be thrown out of operation, by throwingV off the Vbelt 43; or the second and third pulleys, or either of them, may be thrown'out of operation by throwing off the connecting 4belts 41 and 42, or either of them.

The air supply pipes are, of course, provided with suitable dampers for regulating the amount of air going directly into the respective casings, and also for cutting od the air supply, if desired.

In practising my invention the condition of the surrounding atmosphere must be taken into consideration, and the condition and amount of air directed tothe match heads must be regulated accordingly as above described. The air must bev-forced into direct contact with the outer ends .and sides of the match heads at highv velocity ,as I have discovered that the polishing eifect of the air increases proportionately .to its rate of movement as previously mentioned.

A separate application for patent for the matchshead polishing process herein Vdescribed will be duly filed. l

1. In match-head .polishing means for match machines having a carrier in which matches are held in spaced relation'to each other, a chamber through which the carrier progresses, and means for directing air at high velocity toward the heads of the matches and in a pathlongitudinally of the splints as the matches progress through said chamber, whereby the air impinges .against Ythe, ends and sides of the individual match heads.

2. In match-head polishing means for match machines having a carrier in which matches .are held in spacedrelation'to 'each other, a chamber throughfwhich fthe chain progresses having an air outlet, a wheel about which the carrier isguided within said chamber 4having radial air vents adjacent to which progress the heads of the matches on the carrier, and means for supplying air under pressure to the said radial vents.

3. In match-head polishing means for match machines having a carrier in which matches are held in spaced relation to each other, a chamber having an air outlet, a guide Wheel for the carrier Within the casing comprising spaced heads connected near their peripheries by a circular series of radially-disposed blades providing air vents adjacent to Which progress the heads of the matches on the carrier, means for supplying air to the interior of the Wheel, and means for agitating the air Within said Wheel.

4. In match-head polishing means for match machines having a carrier in Which matches are held in spaced relation to each other, a chamber through which the carrier progresses having an air outlet, a Wheel for the carrier Within said casing, said Wheel including spaced heads connected near their peripheries by a circular series of radiallydisposed blades providing air vents adjacent to which progress the heads of the matches on the carrier, means for supplying air to the interior of the Wheel, a. rotary paddle-device Within the said Wheel, and means for rotating said paddle device.

5. In match-head polishing means for match machines having a carrier in Which matches are held in spaced relation to each other, a chamber through Which the carrier progresses having an air outlet, means for directing air at high velocity toward the heads of the matches and in a path longitudinally of the splints as the matches progress through said casing, and means eXteriorly of the casing for directing air at high velocity and in variable amounts toward the heads of the matches and in a path longitudinally of the splints.

6. A carrier Wheel for match machines, comprising spaced disks having an inlet centrally thereof for the admission of air to the interior of the Wheel, and a rotary paddle device Within said Wheel.

7. A carrier Wheel for match machines, comprising spaced disks having an inlet centrally thereotl for the admission of air to the interior of the Wheel, said heads being connected near their peripheries by a circular series of radially-disposed blades providing air vents.

8. A carrier Wheel for match machines, comprising spaced disks having an inlet centrally thereof for the admission of air to the interior of the Wheel, said heads being connected near their peripheries by a circular series of radially-disposed blades providing air vents, and a rotary paddle device Within said Wheel.

Signed at the city and county of Oswego, and State of NewYork this 23rd day of July A. D. 1915.

FREDERICK VAN DYKE CRUSER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente, Washington, D. C. 

